Republican primary to succeed Graham heads to runoff

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(The Center Square) – The late Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., advanced to a runoff in Tuesday’s Republican primary for U.S. Senate in South Carolina.

Darline Graham led the crowded race for the Republican nomination with 32.7% of the vote, followed by Norman with 24.7%, with 99% of ballots counted. Multiple media organizations declared Graham and Norman the top two Tuesday night.

Because none of the 10 candidates took more than 50% of the vote, Graham and Norman advance to an Aug. 25 runoff.

A special primary election was called after South Carolina’s four-term senator Lindsey Graham died of a heart issue July 11, two days after his 71st birthday. The late Graham had clinched the Republican nomination to run for a fifth term a month before he died.

Graham’s sister was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to finish her late brother’s term ending in January. Darline Graham secured an endorsement from President Donald Trump to remain South Carolina’s senator for six more years.

Norman currently represents South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House. He announced he was running in the special primary election July 18.

The runoff winner will appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot alongside Democratic candidate Dr. Annie Andrews, a Charleston pediatrician, and Libertarian candidate Kasie Whitener, an author.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates South Carolina’s open Senate seat “solid Republican,” meaning the Republican nominee is favored to win November’s race.